The Heavenly Calling!

Hello this is Willa Hardy with man talk radio. We all about breaking down the walls of race and denomination your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just a few minutes. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening to the truth. Podcast network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill, you feel like Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God do you feel like your faith is dead or alone. Today Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local tribal ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living. For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook.

Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious. Father, we thank you for your son into this world and 40s. We thank you to the site where with us tonight. Stefan operated a few minutes ago sex actually step on private you would your spirit will just penetrate every square inch of the sanctuary and really our hearts in a private tonight north of someone sitting here who's never heard you call to him in a real tangible way. The road he was called heavenly calling afraid he will hear you call him tonight with these words come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. And that's a promise that he will fulfill Chrissy spiteful to keep all of his promises is a private tonight you listen to what God has to say. From Hebrews 3 and I pricked him if the distro word will go forth and accomplish the very purpose for which you intend is inuring that I pray, amen. Bob was, why don't you turn to Hebrews chapter 3 how to title this the heavenly calling, it will be in Hebrews 3, but I will take you back to Genesis in Genesis chapter 4, we learned that Cain killed his brother Abel is the first murder recorded in the Bible how to got respond to this with the Lord said to Cain, your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground.

Now you are under a curse, and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand when you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crop to catch this got cocaine you will be a restless wanderer on the earth. You commit tonight. Do you feel like a restless wanderer you wondering are you questioning what is life really all about why my here was my purpose in life and what will happen to me when I die, listen living your life without God is what makes you restless. Nothing of this world ever brings true satisfaction essay from the moment of our birth man.

We are restless for something just nice for someone son Augustine who lived during the early fifth century A.D., has given to the world.

Perhaps the greatest senates of all time. He said you made us for yourself, oh Lord in our heart is what restless until it rests in you. You made us for yourself, oh Lord in the heart is restless until it rest in you.

Listen, Augustine was a great sinner who struggle with something that a lot of men struggle with what is at last forkful. His mother Monica. Pray for him constantly in 384 at the age of 30, by the promise of God, Augustine found himself in the city of Milan.

We began listing to a great preacher and orator by the name of Ambrose, who could also match his intellectual genius and over the course of time Augustine fantasy of being strong to God through Ambrose's preaching one day he was in a courtyard with a friend when he heard some children on the other side of this brick wall and they were singing, just pick it up and read it, pick it up and read it so he ran over to he took that is is is a call from God directing him to go read his Bible and actually his friend was holding up his Bob essay ran back to his friend because it wandered away and he said, let me let me see that Bob says when he opened it up with Philip and the Romans chapter 13 verses 13 and 14 which you see was a passage that nailed him about a sin is what Paul writes in Romans 1314 let is behave decently as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature later, Augustine said, I wanted to read no further noted, I need to be for instantly as the sentence ended there was infused in my heart.

Something like the light of full certainty and all the gloom of doubt vanished away.

What happened to Augustine. In that moment is what happens to every single believer.

He heard the effectual call from God. It was his own personal heavenly calling Joan know that there are two types of calling from God, that really need it until I studied this week.

The first is known as the external call of the gospel that goes out to the entire world. I want to think about what Billy Graham did for 70 years. What he did he proclaim the gospel all over the entire world that color was both universal and external in nature, sadly, however, the vast majority of people to join on the reject that external call from God when they hear the gospel they just turn away from office just from a indifference I don't really care best lawyers in America today. So many people just don't care there in different the second type of call is the internal call of God by the Holy Spirit and only those who been chosen before the creation of the world actually hear this call their notice what the elect. The call that you really want to hear is the internal call of the Holy Spirit's income to me. Paul explains it like this in Romans chapter 8 verses 2230 says we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew what that means is that before creation began. Everyone here is a believer.

He foreknew you as belonging to his family.

This will that work for no names for those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed into the likeness of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and those he predestined he also called here that those he called he also justified those he justified he also glorified. John MacArthur explains it like this Scripture reveals a truth about this call is a summons that cannot be ignored, and it cannot be resisted is a subpoena to appear before God in his court for the purpose of being declared righteous been declared just having all of your sins forgiven and been set free from judgment, or any condemnation he called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

He didn't call you out of darkness, hoping you'd come. He called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

That's where you went. When ecology when ecology you came into his body. You became a part of the body of Christ you came into the fellowship you became holy. He was psyched about so that one day you will be what glorified. It is in that sense, MacArthur says an unyielding summons from God that you will respond to that is what theologians have called it irresistible grace. How can you know whether or not you share in this heavenly calling with a printed Hebrews chapter 3. Therefore when you see the word therefore what he supposed to ask what therefore OKs a walkabout that a minute therefore, holy brothers, you share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house for Jesus is been counted worthy of more glory than Moses has much more glory is the build of a house has more honor than the house itself, but every house is built by someone, but the good of all things is to God. Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant to testify to the things that were to be spoken later. But Christ is faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house you that we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence in our boasting and I hope your back to the question, how do you know whether you actually share in this heavenly calling welder .24 conditions from this passage actually there more than four, but I'll have time to cover for a visa for the most important ones.

By the way, each one of these conditions must apply to you all for them is the first one you must have been set apart to God the picture he set you apart unto himself. Look at verse one.

Therefore, what can you brothers holy brothers, you share in the heavenly calling this word holy symphonies to be set apart under God even separated from the world from sin and from Satan you belong to God. Therefore, you can't. It should be called a brother. That's why if you sit or deny your Christ did. You're my brother or you my sister, my wife is my sister Jeanette the just not going there. See, when you consider putting the God you belong to the family of God, and you covered by the blood of Christ to that's what it means to share in this heavenly calling this world lesson is no longer your home and you no longer feel at home here Deuteronomy you are citizen of the kingdom of God in heaven is your real home now. I love this passage in Hebrews chapter 11 verses 13 through 16, where the writer will begin at this later on in the spring. All these people.

Some of the people in the Old Testament were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised, they only sell them and welcome them from a distance and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

People are say such things sure that they're looking for country of their own if they been thinking of the country. They have left they would had opportunity to return.

Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he is what he's prepared a city for them. I became a believer when I was about 10, 11, 12, sometime I mean I don't remember I could've walk away from this. Anytime I wanted to but you know what I don't want to.

I'm not turning back. I'm not going back now slip and fall and plenty of times, but I'm still headed for heaven and elsewhere want to get to those who share in this heavenly calling, will we live by faith with brothers walk by faith not by sight. Those who share this heavenly calling throwing strangers and aliens in this world you thought that sometimes people don't get you, ask yourself how comfortable do you feel in this world would you rather hang out with your friends who are still living their lives without Christ drilled communication. I hang out with your brothers. That's really a big question you need to answer those who share this heavenly calling a longing for heaven. We've lost our affections for this world were no longer attached to the things of earth and we have our eyes fixed upon Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith so massive something does that describe you for your longing for heaven. Do you have your eyes fixed on Jesus.

We consumed with getting more second your thoughts are constantly on Jesus not only everything a second time and you get up in the morning. He's typically the first when you think about you think about him all throughout the day. Look at verse one again. Just therefore, holy brothers, you share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus this work consider comes from the root of a Latin word for star and it originally meant to contemplate the store so when you see Mrs. consider Jesus is suggest the idea of an astronomer who was quietly patiently concentrating his gaze at the stars to discover all that he can possibly know about them and that's the way were to look gaze upon Jesus, do you gaze upon Jesus, to the point we follow-up with him is like a treasure that you discovered and you can't what what and share with somebody, the right of Hebrews says the word therefore this is on, back to. It wasn't therefore he wants us to look back at chapters 1 and two in the racing horses look back is because were to continuously consider gaze upon think about meditate upon both who Jesus is and what is done for us, that we sing about at night. We sing about who Jesus is and what is done force in chapter 1 we learn that Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being.

He is the creator and sustainer of all things you think I'm worried about global warming who sustaining and keeping chart of the thermostat. Jesus. Jesus is at the right hand of God, nor is doing while you're sitting there.

He's praying for you and me so that we won't fall into temptation.

Jesus shared with Arthur in chapter 2 in our humanity so that by his death he might destroy this the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil and free us who all our lives have been held in slavery by our own fear of what death the hospital is for people who are dying, we will pray for people to not in a ballasted about man who at the point of death for an amount right now that I can propose at the point of death. I'm going to see him tomorrow just want if you know Christ then did the fear of death is been taken away from you because you know that death is just a doorway that let you into Paradise which is where the homeless. Jesus was made like his brothers in every way know that he might become a merciful and faithful high priestess should about us is that Jesus has been tempted in every way that you not been tempted which blows me away because I've been to some really bad ways that he suggests is not out there like the whack a mole at the state fair. You know when you go out and you wait for the motor stick his head up and whack his head off.

That's what people think of God. Jesus there.

He loves us and when you fall into some sin is not condemning you. He understands he has to get sent just want you to recognize that was seen for what it is to turn away from it is you want your life to be full of joy and peace and contentment and rest so you think about these things during the daytime. But what who Jesus is, what is done for you. If not, what occupies your mind most the time.

Those who share in this heavenly calling, think about Jesus everyday and all throughout the day, listen carefully word this is part of the most important one to share in this heavenly calling. You must have a personal what relationship or testimony a confession.

Look at verse one again will get the versus anything by tomorrow. Look at verse one again.

Therefore, holy brothers, you share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of what our confession.

So what is it mean to have a personal testimony confession. It means that you had a personal encounter with the living Lord, by the way, still alive and still get a flesh and blood in a slightly what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. Other probably not that dramatic, made Paul Ashley her Jesus with his physical ears and he saw with his eyes and thought it was blotted.

He fell to the ground. You probably have not seen with your physical eyes or parting with your physical ears. Although there are people in the least.

Who heaven. That is another sermon. So let me ask you this if you heard Jesus with the ears of your heart sing with the eyes of your heart. Do you understand what I'm even talking about. If you don't really understand it, then listen carefully.

So how does this happen to a man what a man is born again is what happens the holy from DC when I go away and will send another counselor to be with you. He will be the spirit of truth, and he will guide you into all truth.

So when when a man is born again. The Holy Spirit enters that man into the spirit supernaturally and lifts the veil and get some spiritual understanding. This is why Jesus was always saying let him who has ears, what here you think you talk about these ears know some of the ears of your heart, Paul explained it like this, and second, credit shall, before he says. And even if our gospel is veiled is liking the man through the Bible right here in the section of failover. He can read the words but is avail. He didn't understand what it says so even if our gospel is veiled is veiled to those who are perishing, the god of this age who that the Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ is the image of God. This is why listen most of your friends don't get it. We try to explain to them what happened to you. They don't understand because they are spiritually blind. So what is the solution Paul tells in second Corinthians chapter 3 verses 15 to 16 where he writes even this day, when Moses written it all they had was Old Testament when it was written so what you're saying.

Even today, when the Jews were the Old Testament, even Thursday when men read the Bible avail covers our hearts, but whenever anyone turns to Lord, the veil is taken away those who have heard heavenly call of God. They do they turn to Jesus because they find him irresistible in that moment the veil is taken away and they begin to see and understand spiritual truths to see how faith must proceed understanding you got his what you going to trust God first, you gotta say Lord I believe you that moment the horse it will invade your heart, and he will give you he lift the veil. Guess you better understand what the Bible is talking about and what Christian is all excited about then you have eyes that see and ears that hear fourth to share in this heavenly calling, you must belong to God.

The general were born will belong to God about us is that we are God's enemies. They were actually under his wrath. Look at verses five and six Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant to testify to the things that were to be spoken later.

But Christ is faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence in our boasting in our Lord's God created us to know him in Delaware that we can know him as if he comes in and wails our heart. But his a warning.

Romans eight Nancy is you, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the spirit if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ is what does not belong to Christ, so he is technically the only way a person can be a Christian is.

If you're indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Most church members believe they belong to God simply because they attend church.

Not true. Most church members believe they belong to God as they see themselves as good people.

Most church roads believe they belong to God because I been baptized or confirmed never saw the apostles Creed and the Lord's prayer. That's not true either. No outward actions, they can segment you don't become a child of God through religious striving Jesus said you must what be born again. Would you like to know that your child of God. Tonight if you don't already listen carefully in Matthew 1128 29 visit to my favorite verse in the Bible Jesus is because it shows the heart of God, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you what rest that's what the werewolves were cottages running around out-of-control stressed and anxious.

And what about horses go sit by the pond with a straw hanging out of your mouth with a cane pole and look at the beautiful clouds go by us a picture of the kennel rest that God will she give you your so Jesus take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls cucumber tonight weary and burdened is so performative were not a day.

Look at verse seven through 18 to get some of it is very quickly. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, today if you hear his voice and do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion of the deaf testing in the wilderness were your fathers put me to test and saw my works. For four years. They all died in the desert because they were grumbling and disobeying and want to go back to Egypt. Therefore, I was provoked with that generation sit, they always go astray in their heart.

They did not know my ways as I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest so they all died in the desert if there were over the age of 20. Never enter the promised land. Take care brothers listed be in interview and evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort and encourage one another every day as long it is called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

You see sin could never deliver what it promises that you deliver the opposite.

It comes in a beautiful package of Griffin is a bomb explodes in your face, for we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end as it is here today. Listen tonight if you hear his voice, do not heart your heart is in the rebellion for who were those who heard and yet rebelled, was not all those who left Egypt led by Moses and with whom was he provoked for four years, was it not with those who sin whose bodies fail in the wilderness and to whom did he swear that is a God, as she took an oath that they would not enter his rest, he did that to those who are disobedient.

So we see that his decay that they were unable to enter because of what unbelief there is only one sin they can keep you out of heaven is the sin of on belief.

Every other sand, rape, murder, incest, theft, adultery, God can deal with all their sins. He could not deal with was a man who will not believe him twice. The Lord says do not harden your hearts. If you hear the call of God right now. Do not turn away while because if you turn away from God. Even if it's just indifference and you will never enter God's rest once it made in regards rest. If you never in his rest means that you will be a restless wanderer like cane. The rest of your life you'll never find men peace and joy and contentment and listen if you remain in a state of unbelief and often is just indifference. I just tell you the truth, you will never enter heaven.

A place of eternal joy and peace and contentment and everlasting rest.

Revelation 1413 says, then I heard a voice from heaven say right. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on yeses the spirit they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them here that they will rest from their labor.

This may sound shocking to you, but my family is destroyed. I can't wait till I die.

Now don't get to the Don process, but I'm ready to go beyond it when I die I will enter a place called Paradise and there I will rest from all labor ever the laboring of my mind from stress, worry and anxiety will be no more the labor of my body due to physical pain, declining health and aging will be no more the laboring of my soul from moments of darkness and depression that some of you did with that right now will be no more. In that moment, man. I will express joy and peace like Russ Andrews is never known resolving the dwelling place of God in Jesus himself will be with me and Jesus will wipe every tear from eyes. There'll be no more death or mourning or pain crying for the old order of things. The Bible says would have passed away. I believe this with all my heart you know why because the one who promises all this is faithful to keep all of his promises and he is said, I am making everything new. He told John to write this down, write it down. John does these words are trustworthy and true. Everything in this book man is true I start my life on it. So in closing, how should you respond if you hearing the call of God right now. Ted respond if you here if you since Holy Spirit speaking to you right this moment sin company believe Lord Jesus Christ and you will say that's affirmed in Romans 1013, which says everyone who calls on the name of the Lord we say probably God is calling you to come to him now you have to do is call on him joy to do that right now on invited value hits everybody. Please close your eyes hits down as close if you're sitting here tonight you since God calling you to come home to come to him and you want to respond to him on level as you come forth, but I will as you lift your hand up to my father, you perchance and you see the hands of a race. I pray with all my heart, Lord, I still thought this someone else. It wants to raise his hand.

He's just afraid to.

He doesn't understand Lord lift the veil from their hearts let them know how much you love them that you created him to know you and that you prepared a place for them in heaven, but you can. They can only enter if they come to you. So Lord help them come.

Jesus being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ you been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Andrews, a local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living. You can discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources@findingpurpose.net will connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men to study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net.

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